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Sr Sophia Vesecky OP |
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Wake Reflection ~ March 6, 2008 ~ Sr Irene Hartman It isn’t often in our history that a twin enters our convent, but a twin called Clara Bernadine did enter in August of 1933. Clara was born in Timken, Kansas, on August 3, 1915, along with twin brother Clarence. Her parents were Frank and Sophia Blazek Vesecky. Frank was from Czechoslovakia and Clara’s mother Sophia was from Holyrood. Clara and Clarence were baptized in Holy Trinity Church in Timken on October 8, 1915 Clara felt called to follow her cousins Sisters Stanislaus and Josephine Blazek, into the Dominican Convent, and she entered shortly after her eighteenth birthday; the date was August 20, 1933. At her investing in April, 1934, she received the name Sister Sophia. She made her profession in 1936 and happily celebrated jubilees silver, golden, diamond, and 70th. Not all the celebration for her golden jubilee was happy, for her beloved brother priest, Father John, had died that preceding March 29, 1986. Her twin Clarence died in 2002. She is survived by devoted nieces, nephews, and cousins. From the beginning of her life as a Dominican, Sister Sophia showed skills and expertise in preparing meals. Her first assignment was to the convent kitchen where she ministered from the time of her first profession until 1942. She moved from the convent kitchen to the kitchen in St. Rose Hospital where she served from 1942 - 1945. From Great Bend she went to mission houses in Clonmel, Wichita (Millwood), Fowler, Seward, Belpre, Sapulpa, and Hutchinson. There was interspersed a time in the diet kitchen at the motherhouse, and a period in St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned. Her last mission assignment was to serve as homemaker from 1971 to 1989 for the sisters teaching in Trinity Junior and Senior High School in Hutchinson. During this time, she took a special interest in the Kansas State Fair, and made great efforts to preserve jars of food for presentation at the Fair. Congratulations came her way and she received many ribbons as prizes. She delighted to see her name in The Hutchinson News as a prizewinner. After Hutchinson, she served in domestic work in the motherhouse. One item of interest was unearthed in 1999 by Sister Philomena Hrencher who was then serving as Assistant Treasurer. It was common knowledge that Sister Sophia was a gardener at heart and was very interested in planting an orchard on the convent grounds. There was a 1991 sales slip for $119.74 (which came from her Renew Fund) for the purchase of fruit trees: Red Winesap, Red Delicious, Bartlett Pear, Kieffer Pear, Black Tartarian, Kristin Cherry, and Stanley Prune. And to show she was a woman of hope, she ordered two wire fruit pickers. Who knows how many of those trees are still standing and producing (especially after the damage nature has wrecked on trees on the property), nor do we know how many pieces of fruit Sister Sophia picked. However, the purchase is one example of the hope that burned in the heart of Sister Sophia. She was a woman of hope and wanted her sisters to have a convent orchard. Farewell, dear Sister Sophia. You have made a wonderful journey as a Dominican Sister. Thanks for walking beside us and touching our lives in so many marvelous ways. May the angels welcome you to the Eternal City! |
